Organizing Paperwork that Doesn’t Need to Be There
I have this basket. It’s supposed to be a really empty inbox that demonstrates how on top of everything I am because guess what – I took these pictures last night after I finished filing. Yeah. After.
You can see the problem. I’m dong working, but my basket’s not empty. Call me a glass half-empty gal on this one because I’m pretty sure… yep… it’s not even half empty. Ever. So much for being a filer. This photo is all about being a PILER.
None of these papers have a place in our home. I don’t know where to put them. So there they sit in my inbox where I constantly shuffle through them and decide, “Yep. I still don’t know where to put them. Huh. I’ll just leave them in the inbox.”
It is another one of those places were I am not organizing my life. I’m just shuffling my stuff.
So here’s the deal. I need to declutter this stack once and for all because I’m tired of how it brings me down Every Time I head off to file papers and pay bills. I’ve got two choices:
- Corral everything into folders and bins. I can’t make the tire house look magazine-ready (unless we’re talking Popular Mechanics-ready!), so there’s no pressure to have a sleek and shiny organizing system. I just need something that works.
- Ditch it already. What if instead of poking around with labels and matching markers, I got rid of my stash?
I might only be talking about a little stack of papers today. Yet it makes me wonder… just how many corners are we constantly re-organizing when we should really just declutter?
Nothing drives Martin bonkers more than to hear me struggling into the door with a heap of organizing supplies in my hands. I see his point. (sometimes) We’re buying and consuming more than ever, and the only way to keep our lives managable is to go out and buy stuff to hold it all.
So there’s my answer. Ditch it already, Katie. Ditch it or do something with it.
*poof* *empty!*
What? Dumping everything on the floor behind me for a photo shoot doesn’t count? (big sigh) You know what I’ll be tackling tonight.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:06 am
I have this problem too! And I always think about your tip of only handling papers once–as I shuffle through them for the tenth time:) For all of my bills and such I like using expanding folders. What’s nice is the plastic ones are tough enough to reuse for years. I have several that I originally got in college.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
I seem to have this problem too! But, I just don’t have the cute basket to put the papers in.
January 6th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Ug, this is such a problem for me too!! I have those bits and odd things too! My pile is a little larger than yours, though. Maybe that’s what I’ll do with my afternoon!
January 6th, 2011 at 1:16 pm
If I had that cute basket I am just positive I would be more organised! Or maybe not. :)
Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog – a big painting? How big?? :) :) I am sure I could do that!
January 6th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
What an adorable basket! Hmmm, i’ve had that problem before. Can you at least scan anything that can’t be tossed and put it on a disc or something? Not totally gone, but taking less space and emotional energy?
January 6th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I know exactly what you mean. My pile is much bigger than yours though. Actually, there may be more than one…
Paper clutter is my biggest problem. DH says put it away or throw it away, which I totally want to do, but where should it go? It’s not always as simple as that. Or at least in my head it’s not.
January 7th, 2011 at 4:38 am
So true!! This is our project for today, actually — what to get rid of that we’ve just been shuffling around the house but not using.
January 9th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Oh my, de-cluttering was foremost on my mind in December and it’s great to have started the year organized. When faced with a tough decision like this, I was told to ask “what’s the worst that can happen”, since lots of things can now be found online, and it made me toss out boxes and boxes paper! Everything worth keeping has been filed where I can find it. With my papers now in order, I am more confident to go through the rest of my junk around the house. Love your blog and your insights.
May 12th, 2011 at 11:19 pm
I have the same problem with the very same basket!!!
Yes, everything that I have in there has no home, and is not really that important – coupons, magazines, stray items. I should just empty it all out in the trash, and start anew each week.